Johnny Depp might be its representative. A versatile actor who can morph himself into many different characters, he has played Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, a teenager in A Nightmare on Elm Street, a police cop in 21 Jump Street, a gentle spirit in Edward Scissorhands, an undercover FBI agent in Donnie Brasco, a druggie in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, a director in Ed Wood (1994), Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow, a bridegroom in Corpse Bride, Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a strange man in Secret Window, a novelist in Finding Neverland, a barber in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
He is constantly full of surprises and can present himself in multiple unexpected ways – just like the open water.
His intensity reminds us of an angry sea or a raging oncoming tide where relentless commitment to forward progress is an absolute necessity.
His outlandishness and eccentricity reminds us of the myriad nature of open bodies of water – sometimes warm and soothing, occasionally cold and rough, many times unpredictable.
His popularity and charisma reminds us of the allure and attraction of tropical oceans and alpine lakes. Like the magnificent bodies of water, he draws you in and invites you to enjoy good times.
“If there’s any message to my work,” explains Depp, “it is ultimately that it’s OK to be different, that it’s good to be different, that we should question ourselves before we pass judgment on someone who looks different, behaves different, talks different, is a different color.” And the open water can certainly be different, behave differently, and be a different color depending on the location, time and condition.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.